Chapter 10

Fahim and the others made it out of the cave safely and when they realized Ardeth, Rick and Layla didn't come out they started digging. Fahim had Evie and Alex help the camp's doctor tend to Mahir's injuries. It was going to take hours for them to dig their way to them and he thought keeping them busy would help keep them calm.

"It is my fault my Grandson is in there. If he should parish, I…"

"Don't say that. It isn't your fault. You didn't see the sign. If you had I'm should neither of you would've entered," Evie said.

"I am an old man and my judgment is not what it used to be. I should have turned back when Alex asked me to."

"Please don't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes. I'm sure they'll be fine, you'll see," Evie said, trying to convince herself as well as Mahir.

"Mom is right. Dad and Ardeth have survived mummy attacks twice. What's a little dirt tumbling down on them?" Alex said trying to make him feel better.

"You both are right. My Grandson and Rick are very strong men if anyone can survive this it will be them. I just hope Layla is strong enough," Mahir said, sounding very worried.

"I'm sure they protected her and all three of them will come out laughing about all this," Evie said, hoping.

******

Rick had relit the torches and he and Layla were trying their best to dig an opening in the tunnel, while on the other side the Medjai warriors and the archeology diggers were doing the same. Ardeth struggled to his feet as Rick and Layla were digging when they saw him move they stopped and stared at him.

"What do you think you're going to do?" Rick asked.

"I'm…going …to help," he struggled to say with the sore ribs.

"I do not think it wise for you to be moving around. Sit back down and stay out of our way," Layla ordered him.

"I do my share of the work," he groaned as pain shot through him.

"I hope your ass is as hard as your head," Rick commented.

"What?"

"Cause if you don't sit back down I'm going to knock you on it," Rick told him.

Ardeth ignored Rick's warning and started picking up small rocks. Layla watch him as he went for a bigger rock next to her foot. She stepped on it to keep him from moving it.  "Layla, you stepped on the rock I'm trying to move." Ardeth waited for a response from her. She turned and smiled at him, so he went back to the smaller rocks. Soon the pain in his ribs got the best of him and he sat back down to rest.

"Rick," Layla whispered. "I'm finding it harder to breathe."

"I know we're losing our good air in here. Pretty soon the torches will be going out," Rick explained.

"You should put all but one torch so it does not use our air," Ardeth said, overhearing them.

"Good idea, Buddy. Nice to know your brain hasn't been affected yet." Rick extinguished two of the torches, making little light to work with. After digging a while longer Layla stopped as her breathing became more labored. Rick struggled to dig knowing if he didn't make a hole soon they all would die.

*****

"How long has it been?" Evie asked.

"My guess would be an hour or more," Mahir told her.

"I'm going to walk down there to see if they need anything," Evie said.

"I'll go with you," Alex said, jumping to his feet.

"No you don't! You'll stay here with Mahir," Evie told him. "I'll be back when I have some news."

"Be it good or bad I want to know about my grandson," Mahir stated.

"I promise. I won't keep anything from you." Evie walked to the site and as she got closer she heard yelling coming from inside. She ran the rest of the way to see what was going on. She found Jonathon standing just outside the tunnel. "Have you reached them?" she asked as the yelling continued.

"We just broke through. It's a small hole but we don't hear anyone answering on the other side….yet," Jonathon added quickly, not wanting to dash her hopes. He pulled her away from the entrance as they brought out more dirt and rock.

"They'll answer they have to. Nothing has happened to them. They're just asleep or something. Maybe they have found another way out," she babbled with anxiety.

"I'm sure any of those things could be possible," Jonathon said, putting his arm around her shoulder. He stood there holding her for the longest time, both of them silent, trying to hear what was happening in the tunnel.

Soon they heard cheering. They rushed to the entrance to see what was happening. Fahim carried Layla out and laid her on the ground. She was coughing and gasping for air. "Jonathon, get her some water," Evie ordered. "Thank God, she's all right. Where are Rick and Ardeth?"

"They're getting them out. Ardeth is hurt," Fahim reported. "Please look after her while I go help my brother." He went back in tunnel as Evie wiped some of the dirt off Layla's face. Jonathon came running back with the water.

"Here Layla, take a small drink," Evie suggested helping her to sit up.

"Where's Ardeth? Do they have him out yet?"

"I'll go check on him," Jonathon told her.

"I have to go see for myself," Layla said trying to get up.

"No, you stay right here. They'll be just fine." Evie watched the tunnel entrance waiting for her husband and Ardeth to be brought out. Suddenly she heard Rick call out for her. "Over here, Darling!" She yelled to him.  He waved and looked back as they carried Ardeth out of the cave. Again he was coughing in need of air and the pain he was in from his ribs was excruciating.

Evie helped Layla to her feet then they walked over to Ardeth and Rick. Evie hugged Rick with all her strength. "Evie, Evelyn! Please I need to breathe. I almost stopped breathing in there. I don't need you choking it out of me," he said. He chuckled as she quickly pulled away from him.

"I'm sorry. I thought…It's good to see all of you out of there," she said, changing the subject.

"I'm glad we're out of there too," Rick said, giving her a kiss.

"My Love. I'm so glad to see you. We need to get you back to camp so your mother can help you," Layla told Ardeth as she sat holding him.

"I will be fine. I think we will wait until morning to go back. I'm sure you do not feel like making the journey tonight," Ardeth said not wanting to admit he was the one that didn't want to go.

"But you need your injuries tended to. I only thought you'd want to have your mother's healing hands to help you."

"I do not think that my injuries are going to heal overnight. She may tend to them tomorrow," Ardeth said with a smile.

"Ardeth's right. We'll stay here tonight the camp doctor will look after him," Rick said as the doctor and Alex brought Mahir to him.

"Grandfather, you should not be up trying to walk," Ardeth reprimanded him.

"I am fine it is only twisted, not broken," Mahir told him. "Layla, are you injured?"

"No, Mahir. I am ok, just worried about Ardeth."

"Do not worry about me. I will be fine," Ardeth said, trying not to breathe too deeply.

"Let's get out of the doctors way and he can look him over," Rick suggested.